how to remove elements of one vector from another vector

Question

hi,all, I have two vectors A and B, B is a subset of A, now i want to remove elements of B from A, how to do that?

cheers

daiyue 

Answer 1

You can use the remove_if function from <algorithm> and a predicate function or lambda. If you keep you vectors sorted or use sets, then consider set_difference.

Answer 2

could you make an example of using remove_if in my case?

especially, how to code the predicate function in this case.

Answer 3

One possible one for your case would be:

struct ExistsInVector
{
	ExistsInVector(const std::vector<int>& vec) : m_vec(vec) {
	}
	bool operator() (int i) {
		return (std::find(m_vec.begin(), m_vec.end(), i) != m_vec.end());
	}
private:
	const std::vector<int>& m_vec;
};

which would be used with the std::remove_if function like this:

std::remove_if(A.begin(), A.end(), ExistsInVector(B));

To completely achieve your goal, however, you would need to erase the trailing elements left behind in "A". ending up using the Erase-remove idiom, like this:

A.erase( std::remove_if(A.begin(), A.end(), ExistsInVector(B)), A.end() );

- Shoaib.

Answer 4

i think the trailing elements left behind in A is fine?why should i remove them?

 

Answer 5

>I have two vectors A and B, B is a subset of A, now i
>want to remove elements of B from A, how to do that?

>how to code the predicate function in this case.

The code will depend on what type of objects are
in the vectors. You may not need a predicate:

#include "stdafx.h"
#include <vector>
#include <iostream>
#include <algorithm>
using namespace std;

int _tmain(int argc, _TCHAR* argv[])
{
  vector<int> vint, vints;
  for(int i=0; i<20; ++i)
    {
    vint.push_back(i);
    if(!(i % 2)) vints.push_back(i);
    }
  cout << "vector 1 before deletes:\n";
  vector<int>::size_type n;
  for(n=0; n<vint.size(); ++n)
    {
    cout << vint[n] << ' ';
    }
  cout << "\nvector 2:\n";
  for(n=0; n<vints.size(); ++n)
    {
    cout << vints[n] << ' ';
    }
  vector<int>::iterator vIter;
  for(vIter = vints.begin(); vIter < vints.end(); ++vIter)
    {
    vint.erase(find(vint.begin(), vint.end(), *vIter));
    }   
  cout << "\nvector 1 after deletes:\n";
  for(n=0; n<vint.size(); ++n)
    {
    cout << vint[n] << ' ';
    }

  return 0;
}

E&OE

- Wayne

Answer 6

i think the trailing elements left behind in A is fine?why should i remove them?

Because you said you "want to remove elements of B from A". Give it a try yourself - you will understand why you need to remove them.

As an example, suppose A = (1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9) and B = (1,3,5,7,9). Without using A.erase(), you will end up (2,4,6,8,5,6,7,8,9) which I don't think is what you want. To end up with (2,4,6,8), you would need to erase those trailing elements.

You should read the Erase-remove idiom page and search the Internet more for this phrase for a better understanding of that.

- Shoaib.